Lock for water-meter boxes and the like



Si apt. 23, 1930 G. W. CRAVEN LOCK FOR WATER METER BOXES AND THE LIKE 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1929 I I Qua/"e4 0.

san I Sept. 23, 1930. G. w. CR'AVEN 1,776,723

LOOK FOR WATER METER BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 26, 1929 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 z Jim 7 9 4 a v g. N \x EII II I a I l I I l i 1 9m A Ma 6; Warez/em gwug/wto'v Patented Sept. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. CRAVEN, or MACON, GEORGIA, ASSIGNQR 'IOJ. s. soHorInLns sons 00., or MACON, 'GEOBGIA "LOCK roe WATER-METER Boxes AND THE LIKE Application filed January 28, 1929} Serial No. 335,298.

This invention relates to a. lock designed primarily for use in connection with water meter boxes and similarstructures, one of the objects being to provide a simple and efficient lock which can be'combined readily with the cast cover of a meter box.

A further object is to provide a lock utilizing a spring actuated bolt, the spring being positioned. where it will not be exposed to moisture entering the key. holein the cover, the mounting of the spring being such as to allow the same to be readily renewed if broken. 7

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as-the description proceeds the invention resides in the combi nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed-may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 isa horizontal section through a meter box showing the cover and its lock in bottom plan.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-.2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section on line 1%, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a meter box open at the top and provided with a rib 2 extending inwardly from the walls thereof forming a seat 3 for the reception of the edge portion of a removable cover 4. This cover is formed in a single casting provided, at one end, with a depending outturned lug 5 adapted, when the cover is in closed position, to extend under a portion of the rib 2 as shown in Figure 3. I

Parallel longitudinal reinforcing ribs 6 are cast on the bottom surface of the cover and these ribs' are connected at intermediate points by cross ribs 7 and 8"also cast integral with the cover. The rib 8 is formed with an angular opening 9 and extending from this rib adjacent one side ofthe opening is a short stud-10. l

An ear 11 is cast integral with the cover 4 between the apertured portion of the rib 8 and the adjacent end of the cover and in this ear is formed an angular opening 12.

An angular bolt 13 is slidably mounted in the openings 9 and 12and has oppositely extending fingers 1 1 and 15 located between the rib 8 and the ear-11. A stud 16 extends from finger 15 and is adapted to project into one end of a coiled spring 17 the other end of which receives the stud 10. This spring serves tohold the linger 15 normailypressed against the ear 11 at which timethe outer end of the bolt 13 will be positioned under andin engagement with the adjacent pon. tion of'rib 2. This outer end ofthe bolt can be so shaped as to lit snugly under the rib as shown. 7 When the bolt is in projected or rib engaging position as shown in figures when a key properly proportioned is in-' Y serted into the key hole 18 and turned, it will .7

come against linger 1 1 and thrust the bolt 13 backwardly against the action of the spring 17. As soon as the keyis removed, howeventhis spring will return the parts to 7 their normalfpositions shown in Figure 1.

In assembling the lock with the cast cover 1 the bolt 13 is inserted into theopening 9 and, in order to allow this belt to be tilted to escapeear 11 while the bolt is being inserted, the opening 9 is made slightlylarger than would otherwise be. necessary. This is shown in Figure 3. After the bolt has been inserted baclnvardly through opening 9 a sufficient distance to bring its other end back of the ear 11, said bolt can be inserted forwardly through the opening-12 in the ear until finger 15 comes against said ear. The spring 17, after being placed under compression, is inserted between rib 8 and finger 15 and placed in engagement with the studs 10 and 16. The parts are thus assembled and ready for use.

To prevent a key from moving against finger 14v and past said finger so as to become disengaged therefrom, a guard finger or projection 19 may be cast on the cover. Thus after the key has thrust finger 14 backwardly a suliieient distance to disengage the bolt 13 from rib 2, said key will come against this pin 19 and be held against further rotation.

Importance is attached tocthe fact that this cover can be readily cast and that the bolt can be assembled therewith without requiring the use of rivets, special fastening devices or the like. hould the spring 17 break it will drop out. of place or can be easily removed and another one substituted therefor. This would not be trueshould the broken spring be mounted on the bolt 13. In that event, should the spring break, it would be in the way and would interfere with the operation of the bolt as well as its removal for the purpose of applying another spring. What is claimed is:

The combination with a box cover having a key hole and a transverse apertured rib cast integral with the bottom of the cover, of an ear cast.integral with the bottom of the cover, a straight bolt angular in. cross section slidably mounted in and held against rotation by the rib and ear, a laterally extending finger on the bolt, said bolt being extended between the key hole and the finger,

a coiled compression spring interposed between the finger and the rib for holding the bolt normally pro]ected beyond the edge of the cover, studs on the rib and finger pro jecting into the ends of the spring, and a keyengaging finger extending from the'bolt at that side thereof opposite to the first-named finger and toward the key hole, said bolt being slidable into and out of engagement With the rib and ear when the spring is removed, the bolt-receiving opening in the rib being oversize to permit tilting of the bolt when disengaged from the ear.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signa ture.

GEORGE W. CRAVEN, 

